YANGON: A senior British monk stripped of his clerical status and accused of defaming Buddhism was released from custody in Myanmar on bail Friday, his lawyer said, several days after he was detained in a controversial monastery raid.

Uttara and four other monks were greeted by hundreds of supporters outside the Yangon court, an AFP reporter said, after their release from Myanmar's notorious Insein prison.

He was arrested in a late-night swoop several days ago apparently triggered by a dispute over ownership of monastic property.

The five have not been officially charged with defaming the religion, their lawyer Aye Ko said, adding they will return for a second hearing on June 27th.